Reflections ~ 2013

Hey all! I know it’s been much too long since I’ve posted. Honestly, the blog had completely slipped off of my radar this past semester. I’ve had some crazy life changes going on - the biggest being a 700-mile move away from my friends and family. It’s been tough, but can I just say that God has been incredibly faithful? He seriously has taught me so much in the past few months, even when I have not been willing to learn.

As so many bloggers are posting their 2014 resolutions and such, I am constantly reminded of each person’s desire for a fresh start. A second chance at success. A clean slate.

I’m here to tell you that there is not a restart button on life. Of course, there is transformation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15-17) and sanctification by the Holy Spirit. I am thankful for His work in my life! I am thankful that He has worked through the hard times, and used those times to teach me. But there have been specific events in my life that have shaped me, and also constant struggles and temptations that I face. These struggles are not meant to be forgotten. And the decisions that I make also affect my lifestyle and habits. It is in the everyday decisions that I learn, and in which I also make mistakes.

This song by Jonny Diaz has always made me reflect on these events and struggles, but has also always made me thankful that Christ does not hide His scars. He proclaims the most humbling time of His life and used that very experience to save mankind! That blows my mind when I think about it. He did not use His great and majestic power in the way we would use power - to make things easy. He chose to save us in such a unique and difficult way that no other religious system will ever understand.

Just some thoughts. Check in tomorrow for my personal “New Years Resolution” lists! :) I hope you all enjoy your last hours of 2013! :)

My most sincere apologies.

Really, I apologize. I should have pictures for two weeks! Actually, enough to round out the month. :/ But, I don't even have last weeks. I kinda knew this would happen. Which is why I've never started, but that isn't a valid excuse. I gave it a shot, and I think I'll try to finish this month's over May, and then try again in June. We shall see.

Everything is hitting peak right now. School, Bible quizzing, year end events, work, and other misc. events. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. But, I'm just gonna keep plugging away at it!

That's just a small update/excuse for the non-existent posts lately. And I'm sure all my fellow muses would say the same.

Sorry!
Erato

Prayer

    Today as I was getting ready to post my week of photos, my computer goofed up. So I don't have all my pictures right now. Hopefully by tonight. Anyway, that's part of my challenge, but I have a different one for you.

The Boston Marathon was bombed today. As I'm posting this, I don't know much except for the fact that there were two explosions, and a controlled one. I've heard that 23 are injured and two killed, but that's not the final count. So, I sat there after receiving the news and prayed. I encourage you to do the same. And I challenge you to continue praying even after you've run out of words. To just sit there in silence. For, Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helps our weakness: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Sunday morning our Pastor talked partially about just being still. We are so caught up in our lives, with technology, with work, with school, and with people. None of those things are bad, or evil, unless we use them as excuses to not just sit, and spend time with God. I've seen myself doing it more and more. Saying, oh, I have to go do this, this, and this, so I'll have to put off devotions, or praying right now. This world is hurting, and although sitting there and praying won't necessarily change the world, it will change you.

           Also, while you pray for people, please keep Ryan's family in your prayers - their blog.

Be sure not to get bogged down in the cares of this world. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Phil. 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." No matter what happens or has happened. Jesus won.

*Carried* the Net

Part 2 of Carrying the Net

Well, I did it.  I volunteered to carry the net.   Actually, I wore the net most of the time as a scarf.  ‘Twas much more convenient when working, and I didn’t lose it or leave it somewhere quite so often.  ;)  I apologize now for not taking a picture of myself wearing the net, as I had planned to do. Anyway, it was an interesting week!  What was most interesting was how quickly it passed.  I worked three days, went to a school musical and a school play,  went to music lessons, and of course went to church and youth group.   

Less than two hours after I had the net, and before I had decided to wear the net, I walked in to Subway with my fellow muse Thalia, and the lady at the counter immediately asked “So, did you win the game?!”  I gave her a blank stare until she motioned to my net, and proceeded to chuckle and explain to her my purpose for carrying the net.  Because I chose to wear the net the rest of the week rather than carry it around, I think I got more comments.  One person thought I was excited about March Madness, and another very basketball-coach-looking guy commented on the net, saying “That’s a net! Is that a net?!”  Ok, the basketball coach part is just a hunch. ;)  Another sweet lady with whom I am acquainted commented saying, “Oh, did you make that?  Those types of scarves are coming into style now!”  Another somewhat outspoken girl at my library asked bluntly, “[My name], why are you wearing netting as a scarf?”   The weird looks I got were a little more amusing at times.  And of course my immediate and church families commented on the net, though they already knew full well why I was wearing it.  

Small Blessings

     Just a short note of observation about how God really does work all things together for good! (Not that whether I acknowledge it or not makes any difference.)

     Several years ago, my dad lost his job. He was able to get odds and ends jobs, such as census work, or working at the library, but things were still tight. A small background piece of information for you, our family has never had "luck" with toasters. Well, our toaster  had died again, and it was definitely not on the budget to get a new one. We hadn't said anything to anyone, I mean, come on, it's a toaster. But then at a baby shower for a lady at our church, a older lady we didn't know very well came up to mom and asked if we needed a toaster, because they had two for an odd reason. We have that toaster to this day.

     When I was in grade school, I was involved in softball. For the first couple years, it's mostly just fun, but then it becomes a little more serious and girls start dropping out. The first year that I didn't know anyone on my team also became my last, and it was a really frustrating and disappointing season. I'm an introvert, and I don't make friends. Pretty much period. I did actually talk to some of the girls though. Now last fall I started looking for a part time job and one of the girls grandma runs a small dollar store which I applied at. She called me back about a month later and said that she doesn't usually do this, but because I'd played softball with her granddaughter, and she kinda knew my family, she'd hire me! What a huge blessing it's been to me so far. And if I hadn't persevered through that softball season, I might not have gotten the opportunity.

     And the most recent, and most painful. Festival. Band festival. We had districts two weeks ago, and we were the difference between a A- and a B+ from an overall one, which would mean that we could advance to state. Our whole band was disappointed because we had really done well. But the other day I was looking at my schedule for the next month or so, (FULL) and saw that the potential state festival dates conflicted with a large youth group weekend activity, and with our church's senior honors banquet. God does know best, even when we throw a fit because it isn't working out according to our human perspective. You can trust Him. Always.

His Eye is on the Sparrow, and on you and me!

      I've got a prayer request for this couple who are going through some health issues that make all my problems seem like nothing, could you pray for them with me? Living in High Definition is where they are updating their prayer warriors. 

Carrying the Net

    Would I have carried the net? Would I be willing to risk the questions? How practical would it really be? I kept telling myself that there was no way I could pull that off. And the only people I would really see would be my family. Well, and my co-workers, but I couldn’t really carry it while I worked, could I? The orthodontist’s office, my martial arts class, and the four day road trip I am going to be taking; I suddenly realized how many people I would interact with this week. 

     Allow me to explain the situation to you all. Our Sunday School class is held in a section of the gymnasium right under the basketball net. At the beginning of class, our teacher/youth pastor asked a couple of our taller guys to stand on one of the tables to take the net off the basketball hoop. He was going to buy a new basketball net the next day, so this one was disposable. But rather than throwing it away, our youth pastor asked for volunteers. I personally thought He was going to use someone as a demonstration and tie them up with the net, or something else equally ridiculous. A few raised their hands immediately, but our youth pastor smiled, and reminded them not to volunteer for something they knew nothing about. He then proceeded to explain his purpose. This week one volunteer would carry the net at all times. If anyone asked him about the net, he would be reminded of Jesus commissioning His disciples to be fishers of men. (Basketball net, fishing net, apparently it's the same difference.) Then the person would explain this, and would also explain the gospel. Even if no one asked about the net, it would still remind him to be looking for opportunities. 

   

Suffering in Silence

     Disclaimer: This post is not written by me or any of the muses, but by a guy, named Kenny, who goes to our church. I've had the privilege of seeing him come to Christ and watching his whole life change as a result. So I know that these aren't just words that he flippantly wrote, but something that he's been seriously struggling with. I pray that you struggle with some of these things while you read as well.

      A girl in the corner with scars on her wrists. A young man with a handgun contemplating whether to live or die because he things nobody cares about him. A mother who is struggling with guilt after an abortion. A father who has just lost his children to a gunman in a merciless murder.

     Suffering. It is part of the human experience, and we read of it and it breaks our heart... supposedly. But let me ask, does it really break your heart? Does it effect you enough to make you do something about it? - I would contest that most of the time that it does not. In fact, we almost do the exact opposite. We choose to walk away. It's almost disgustion to think about, but we do it all the time. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being part of the problem and not the solution. It is our responsibility as believers to stand for what is correct. That means doing the right thing.